Hill running

Hills are important. You may want to avoid them but you need to tackle them in order to become a better runner.

Hills are essential to getting into shape and continuing to progress as a runner.

They will work your quads and calves and ass and arms.

So, first thing to remember is that you need to keep you head up when running up a hill. You will be tempted to stare down at the hill surface in front and thereby keep your head down and cut off air going easily down your windpipe. So keep your head up, at something like 30 degrees, eyes up staring up and ahead of you.

Second, short chopping strides will serve your better than longer strides that you had coming onto the hill. As you reach the hill, start to shorten your stride, quicken your turn over, rabbit your steps up the hill.

Third, your arms should be swinging. Use your arms. They will help propel you up the hill. Or maybe pull you up is a better way to look at it.

Finally, breathing. You're going to breath heavy and loud and often. Because your muscles are demanded, screaming, for oxygen, so give it to them. Do not try to emulate your breathing before the hill. You need to hyper-oxygenate. So don't worry what you look like or how you sound.

Remember hills are an important part of any training, be it for a race or simply fitness.

Get out there and hit them.


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